When Grief Becomes a Companion on the Journey

Heart Happy

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“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” – Psalm 34:18

After my grandma passed away, grief became my quiet companion. At first, it showed up in the obvious ways—the empty room I walked past each morning and the sudden silence where her prayers once filled the air.

But as weeks passed, I realized grief was still with me, tucked into everyday moments. It came when I pulled out a recipe I learned from Grandma. It came when I noticed my teenage daughter laughing, wishing Grandma were here to see it. It came when I prayed and thought of the prayers I once overheard from her lips.

Grief is like a shadow. It doesn’t always overwhelm, but it never leaves completely.

Grief Teaches Us to Pay Attention

I’ve discovered that grief sharpens my awareness. The ache makes me pay attention in new ways:

To my children’s smiles and milestones.
To the warmth of sunlight through the kitchen window.
To the gift of prayer, which connects me to God and reminds me of Grandma’s faith.

Grief teaches us to notice both the pain of what is missing and the beauty of what remains.

Choosing Gratitude Alongside the Ache

Grief often tries to convince us that joy is off-limits. But gratitude pushes back. When I remember Grandma, I thank God:

For the years I had her close by.
For the lessons she taught me by example—her love, her consistency, her prayers.
For the eternal hope that this goodbye isn’t forever.

Gratitude doesn’t erase grief. But it weaves threads of gold through the gray.

Carrying on Her Legacy

One of the ways I honor Grandma is by carrying on her legacy of prayer and faith. When I hear my children talk about God and their faith, I think, Grandma would be filled with joy. When I choose to worship through tears, I feel her example steadying me.

Her voice still echoes in my memory, and her faith still guides me to look up to Jesus—the same way she always did.

For the Grieving Heart

Friend, if grief has become your companion, please know this: you are not walking alone.

The God who created galaxies is holding your fragile heart. The Jesus who wept at Lazarus’s tomb understands your tears. The Spirit who comforts us is with you right now.

Reflection Questions

Where do you notice grief showing up in your everyday life?
What memory of your loved one can you thank God for today?
How can you carry on a piece of their legacy—through prayer, love, or small acts of kindness?

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted. Thank You that You understand grief because You experienced it Yourself. Help me to walk with hope, even when the ache feels heavy. Teach me to notice beauty in the everyday, to practice gratitude in the midst of tears, and to carry on the legacy of love passed down to me. Steady my heart and remind me that this goodbye is not forever. Amen.

A Final Word of Hope

Grief may always be a companion on the journey, but so is Jesus. And while grief reminds us of what we’ve lost, Jesus reminds us of what we will gain—eternity together, face-to-face with the One who conquered death.

Until that day, I will carry my grief and my gratitude together, trusting that the Lord is my comfort, my Rock, and my Hope.

Additional Resources

Journal Through the Bible in 2025

Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.

God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.